A family who were unable to leave their home without wearies wellies for nearly six weeks due to a flooded drain say the issue has been ongoing for years.

The drain, in Mid Street, South Nutfield, flooded due to severe weather in February, which left the family of four having to "walk through an artificial pond" for several weeks every time they want to enter and leave their house.

The problem, in front of the house by Nutfield Brook, became so bad a man-hole cover was pushed out of place due to water pressure, creating what the family says was a health and safety risk.

Helen Mallison, who lives in the road with her husband Duncan and two children aged three and five, said they have reported the drain to Surrey County Council six times in the last two and a half years.

Read More

More news from East Surrey

Mrs Mallison, 40, said: "We are on a flood plain from the brook which should increase the council's attention to wanting to get it fixed but we have been left ignored no matter how angry or frustrated we get.

"We couldn't leave our homes without wearing wellies. My husband and kids had to climb over the fence before to avoid getting soaked when taking them to school. Luckily most cars drive around it as I'm surprised none of us have got really soaked.

"We've been unable to just walk out of our house and it got so bad we would have to get in the car just to go down the road to the playground rather than walk."

Other residents in Mid Street have shared their own flooding woes, saying two cars were written off in June 2016 after water got into the electrics.

Helen Mallison has complained to the council six times in two and a half years about the drain at the end of their driveway flooding and being left having to wade through with wellies. (Image: Grant Melton)

When the drain cover was forced off by the water, Mrs Mallinson said the council removed it, leaving a hole which she feared her children could fall down.

The family moved into one of two new houses by Nutfield Brook in 2015, a year after they were built and they say the drain has flooded several times since.

Neighbour Tim Mumby, 70, said the issue has been ongoing for 15 years and said residents have "been left frustrated by the council not willing to spend the money" while fearing "something bad like a school bus crashing will have to happen before the council does anything".

The 70-year-old added: "It's very frustrating. It's not just the problem, which is understandable, but the feeling of the council ignoring it. It's not right in this day and age for the Mallisons to be left in the position they've been in."

Mid Street flooded in November 2014 (Image: Tim Mumby)

Mr Mumby said he had made "three or four complaints a year for 15 years".

Surrey County Council's highways team began investigation work at the end of February but in early March told residents they were "unable to proceed due to the adverse weather conditions which prevents the specialist equipment from operating".

Read More

However work is scheduled to begin again, a council spokesman has confirmed.

The spokesman said: "We are exploring possible ways of solving this issue and have been speaking with the parish council about it but due to the severe budget pressures we face, because of rising demand for services and falling government funding, we have to prioritise the work we do."

Keep up to date with the latest news from around the county via the free Get Surrey app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.